A Little About Me

Personal

My name is Anne Slattery, I have been married for 40 years to my wonderful husband Jack, and live in Bristol, PA (suburb right outside of Philadelphia). I am the mother of three adult children of whom I am very proud. I am “Grammy” to two handsome grandsons an eleven year old and two year old and a gorgeous nine year old granddaughter.

I enjoy participating in card challenges where I continue to perfect my craft and learn so much from all the wonderful card makers out there. I belong to several Facebook groups which also inspires and encourages me to keep learning new techniques.

I am about an hour and a half drive to the Amish country in Lancaster, PA. I enjoy sightseeing by driving the back roads and visiting the many unique scrap booking and stamp stores in that area, where I get inspired, learn new things and see many new products on the market.

How I Got Started – Worthy Causes

I started donating cards I created to Operation Write Home, a non profit organization formed to send hand made cards to the troops overseas so that they could send them to their loved ones here at home. With our troops coming home (heart warming), Operation Write Home has closed and no longer accepts cards.

How I Became A Shipper for SAS4KIDS

After Operation Write Home closed shop, I began researching where the cards I made could be used. I came across Send A Smile 4 KIDS (SAS4KIDS) and soon started sending my cards to a shipper in Florida. Transitioning from OWH to other causes took a shift in thinking. SAS4KIDS needs certainly were not the same. No longer were 25 cards of the same design needed, and no longer were donations of 300 cards needed. I had to learn to pare down and think of the children instead of the soldier.

With a lot of effort I found the first hospital. I contacted Karen at SAS4KIDS and became a volunteer shipper. The cards started pouring in. I found that many of these card makers were OWH alumni by the unique way they attached their envelopes and that they were a fan of the A2 side folding cards (great for shipping and attaching envelopes). I realized that in order to accept and keep the cards going out I needed to find more hospitals for SAS4KIDS.

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children (Philadelphia), Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, Hershey, PA, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus OH (acquired from a retired shipper) and Children’s Hospital at St. Peter’s University in New Brunswick, NJ. are the hospitals I ship to.

I continue to contact hospitals in Pennsylvania, NJ and Delaware. Many larger hospitals have an “infection control” policy whereby they can only accept packaged new items for donations. As you are aware, big health care institutions are merging together with the smaller hospitals and it is very difficult to find the right contact, etc.

Veteran’s Homes

I currently send cards to two Veteran’s Homes here in PA. I send them about 100 cards every two months.

Nursing Homes

I currently send 40 home made cards to a small Nursing Home in Philadelphia run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. I send the cards on holidays. Valentine’s, Easter/Spring, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I write a little message inside each one letting the resident(s) know that I am thinking of them.

Foster Kids Charity

Encouragement cards for foster children – donates 1,000 snack bags per month to kids who sadly wait in the courts for hours with nothing to do and nothing to eat. I am collecting encouragement cards to include in the snack bags. These kids need to know that someone is on their side.

Birthday Party Project

Birthday cards for homeless children – The Birthday Party Project throws birthday parties for homeless children at shelters and transitional living facilities. They go all out – decorations, cake, presents, games… these kids deserve their special day, don’t you think? I am collecting birthday cards for these children.

If you would like to donate your handmade cards for any of these causes just send me an email through my contact page and I will get back to you with the particulars.